Cenaka

[Amarth Leithian]

"I am happy to see that you can be friends. I am Amarth and I am not a Rider, but a dancer," Amarth bowed slightly, formally, and ended up on one knee, despising herself for showing any weakness.

"Forgive me, please," she whispered as she stood to her feet again. "Like I said to Leiss, I have had a long day." She tried to brush it off, attempting to convince herself that it was okay to show weakness sometimes and hoped they would believe it as well.

Amarth walked over to Fuego and looked at him, a smile playing at her lips. "You are a lovely creature," she said softly to him. She nodded her head in an easy bow, not wanting to relive her fall. Next, she walked over to Helio and smiled at the little one. "And you shall grow strong, young Helio," she told him, wanting to make him proud, but not too proud.

"And to you, young ones, shall we go somewhere more comfortable? Leiss, where were you going when I found you?" Amarth asked, turning to Amarth as she asked her questions.

[Tijia/ Ari]

Tijia almost rushed forward to help the Kreeshone when she stumbled but restrained herself. She thought that it might embarrass her if Tijia helped her up so she stayed where she was. The Kreeshone came over and said to Helio,"And you shall grow strong, young Helio," Tijia smiled at her wondering whether or not her dragon was too proud. At that thought a small, high voice in her head said,"I am NOT proud." She laughed randomly realizing her dragons first sentence. But when the Kreeshone called her and Leiss "young ones" she scowled. "Umm excuse me but I would appreciate it if you would not call me young one please umm frankly I'm probably older than you are.",she said and smiled at the last comment, people outside Du Weldenvarden seemed to always think she was younger than she actually was.

[Amarth Leithian]

Amarth couldn't help but allow the joyful laugh escape from her lips. Joy surged through her as she remembered saying the same thing when she was younger.

"How old are you, Tijia? I am rather interested to see if you actually are older than me," a grin still spread across her features.

Sighing, Amarth wearily realized that her mind's defenses were almost totally gone and she was having a hard time keeping them up. She could only hope the two Riders wouldn't choose to probe her for no reason.

Turning her head, Amarth looked at her wings and saw they were out again, hanging gently away from her body and relieving the sharp pain in her shoulders. I should ask the Riders if they could massage my shoulders, Amarth thought, laughing in her head.

[Tijia/ Ari]

Tijia smiled and said,"I'm 167 years old, how 'bout yourself hmm?" She laughed at this small contest that had cropped up, wondering whether or not the Kreeshone was actually older than her.

[Amarth Leithian]

Again happiness coursed through Amarth that she was able to have fun in this petty little way.

"I am in the twenty-second year of my Second Cycle. To you, that would be a little bit over 200 years old. In my eyes, you are young, though I did not mean to offend; it was more a term of endearment, I believe you would say."

Her head spun and she looked at the Rider she last spoke to, desperation apparent in her normally guarded violet eyes. At the same time, her stomach growled, bringing her back to herself.

"Let us find a place to rest and a place to eat, please. I have danced all day in the market of this city and people kept begging me, the black-winged dancer, to dance. I couldn't resist; I was so focused on dancing that fatigue didn't reach me until now," Amarth finally explained. She didn't want to ask for help unless she knew she needed it. She slowly made her way to the Inn she was staying at, hoping the two would follow.

[Tijia/ Ari]

Tijia laughed and watched worriedly as despiration grew in her eyes and ran to help her to a resting spot looking behind to see if the girl would follow them.

[Amarth Leithian]

Amarth rested some of her weight on Tijia as they began to walk. "Thank you..." she whispered, not wanting anyone else to hear, not even the other Rider.

My pride may be injured, but at least I will be able to get to the Inn, she thought.

She directed the Riders to the Inn that was quite a few winding blocks away from the place by the pub where they'd begun talking. "I am not one to ask for help like this... I must repay you someone, Tijia," she said, again in a hushed voice.

She was back to hiding her eyes, but she knew her mind was still quite open. But at least they couldn't read her like a book, as her eyes could reveal her like she did to Tijia in her moment of desperation.

[Analeiss & Lemora]

To answer the Kreeshone's question from before, she said, "I was just looking for a place to eat, myself." Then she followed the Kreeshone. Fuego took off to the skies, leaving markes on the road from his long sharp talons. He circled around, and eventually settled down right beside the edge of the city by someone's house. If they found him they'd be quite suprised, but he didn't care. There was no way some common human could touch him.

He began to think about the Kreeshone and what she had said and felt rather proud of himself and his radiant color. He had not always been fond of his color, until he got older and a little wiser.

Leiss watched as the Kreeshone stumbled yet again and was helped over to the pub by the other rider. The young dragon, Helio, still perched on his rider. They neared the pub and Leiss opened the door for them to enter first, as she was used to doing, forgetting that she was no longer a slave. Some habits die hard, but she was glad her manners were so well engrained as it was a gentle part of her character. There was barely anything savage or warrior-like about Leiss, which often frustrated her.

[Amarth Leithian]

OOC-- I planned on going to the Inn and eating, but we'll spinn off this and go into the pub.
IC--

As the girl opened the door for Amarth and Tijia, Amarth locked eyes with Leiss. Thank you greatly, Leiss she whispered in the girl's mind, hoping she had reached through far enough that the girl could hear her.

Sitting down on one of the many long tables in the pub, Amarth sighed with relief. Her legs felt like lead as she sat there. Her wings got her many stares, so many that it felt like everyone's eyes were boring into her. Shuddering, she looked up at the man that came to take their orders. She opened her mouth, barely able to think straight, and ordered water and a sandwich loaded with meat, needing something with substance that she could pick at.

"So... Why are you two here, if I may ask," Amarth asked after taking a weary sip of water.

[Tijia/ Ari]

OCC: Hav either of you told me your names? Oh well I'll just say I got them from your minds or something

Tijia helped the Amarth into a nearby pub after a quick search of their minds. When Amarth thanked her Tijia said,"No need. I believe that one needs no reason to help someone other than it is the right thing to do." She smiled at her warmly and sat her on a long bench. After Amarth had ordered Tijia said,"Hmm I'll take black coffee and thick potato soup, please." When everyone was settled and the food had been served Tijia finally let down some of her mind walls in her comfort.
When Amarth asked what she and Leiss had been in town for she smiled and said,"I was being a tourist in the Kreeshone capital. I know, I know it doesn't sound to glamorous but their aren't any of your kind Amarth in Du Weldenvarden. I think I even saw you dancing in the square earlier this morning.!"
Realizing she was probably talking the others to pieces she shut up before she could think of anything else to say.

[Amarth Leithian]

OOC- Yeah yeah, I at least told you mine.
IC-

A smile of the warmest kind spread across Amarth's tired face when Tijia said she'd seen her dance. "I am honored to know that a Rider watched me dance," she told Tijia.

For a moment, Amarth was silent as well, then spoke up again. "You are right, there are few of us anywhere in this land. I hope you enjoyed your time visiting Cenaka. I cannot say that I was a tourist here, though. I came because people enjoy watching a dancer with wings, and I enjoy their admiration. Perhaps I can show you some small steps," she smiled wryly at Tijia and Leiss, hoping the new friends would be up for the challenge.

"Of course, it is wonderful in fighting as well," Amarth added, to encourage them further.

Their food was brought to the table and Amarth thanked the pub wench kindly before digging ravenously into her meal. Stopping as quickly as she started, Amarth looked up from her sandwich, her pale ivory cheeks turning red with blush. "Excuse my... manners, please," she said softly, feeling very childish.

[Tijia/ Ari]

"No please eat. Would you really teach us some steps? I really thought you looked beautiful when you danced this morning. I'm sure it would really help improve footing when fighting. Maybe I could teach you some fighting techniques in return!", she said brightly. She smiled and dug in to her soup loving it's comfortable thickness.

[Amarth Leithian]

Amarth began eating slower, but still ravenously, before replying.

"I would love to learn what you have to teach about fighting and I would love more to teach you some dances. Let us see... I know dances of love, joy... seduction, if you have a lover," Amarth added the last one with a grin and a wink, hoping to make the Riders laugh.

In a more somber moment, as she thought of fighting, Amarth's hand went to the only blemish on her ivory skin: the scar on her neck that she got just seven years ago. Sure, it had healed, but it took her much time to dance again, for any reason. "Knives... I have danced with knives before... it took me some years to even dance again," she whispered, not going into too much detail about the scar's story. "I am ready, I am sure; it is time I learned more about fighting. I knew more in the past, but have blocked much from my memory, though I still have some skills in the area."

[Aranel Elensar]

Aranel walked through the streets of Aberon, wandering along. Even though she had been offered nicer clothes to wear, she still was ready to fully accept that her old life was gone. Instead, she wore her own clothes which helped her blend in with the other people who were out. The only thing that set her apart was the finely crafted sword she wore at her hip.

Aranel walked down the nearly silent street, her footsteps echoing slightly, as she pondered, "I wonder just how deep I have managed to go... I know I cannot back out now, and really I have no intention to do so, I am just curious as to what I will be expected to do. I know I will probably be meeting with the Riders and the Kreeshone, but I have no idea what I'm to do from there..."

Thoughts kept entering her mind, then being replaced by others as she traveled wherever her feet would take her.

[Amarth Leithian]

OOC- Okay, I can't wait any longer. This might not be too good, since Aranel's post doesn't quite fit in with ours, but I'll try to make them blend together.
IC-

Amarth turned her head as she felt a strong presence take a sip of her mind. She didn't much enjoy the feeling of someone being in her head without permission, and wanted to know who it was. Turning back to the Riders, she said, "Someone is outside and just brushed my mind. Shall we see who it is, to be safe?"

Willing her legs to move, she stood and went outside. Her night-black wings spread a little more in a protective way that would scare most humans, or at least intimidate them. If someone was trying to get in her head, they would have trouble.